Backstreet's Back in Calgary

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Mar 15, 2001 Source: Calgary Sun - Submitted By: Aimee Sources say an early August Calgary show by the U.S. boy band is in the cards By MIKE BELL -- Calgary Sun After a three-year absence from our city, the Backstreet Boys are coming back. The Sun has learned that the hugely popular American boy band will be making a stop in Calgary within the first two weeks of August. Sources say a local date on the second leg of the Florida quintet's current North American arena and stadium tour will be officially announced within the next two weeks. Ticket information for the tour which is in support of its latest CD Black & Blue, will be revealed at that time. The Backstreet Boys, who are the leaders of the current wave of pop music boy bands which includes *NSYNC and 98*, last visited Calgary on Aug. 17, 1998, and sold out the Saddledome with hordes of screaming teenagers. Speculation is the band will be performing at McMahon Stadium in order to accommodate a greater audience -- the Stadium could hold somewhere around 10,000 more fans -- as well as their spectacular and extravagant stage show. It has been relatively quiet as of late when it comes to musical acts, but in 1998, McMahon hosted the local Lilith Fair date featuring Sarah McLachlan, Lisa Loeb and others. While many people have said the Backstreet Boys' popularity is on the wane -- as well as the popularity of teen pop music in general -- the Boys' latest disc, which was released in November of last year, has sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, and the first leg of their North American tour has reportedly grossed an average of $1.4 million U.S per city. During that first group of dates for the Black & Blue tour, they packed Toronto's SkyDome and Vancouver's GM Place. The next three-month leg kicks off on their home turf in Orlando June 8. Accompanying Nick, Kevin, Howie, Brian and A.J. as the opening act for their summer shows will be reggae pop artist Shaggy, whose latest CD Hotshot and its single It Wasn't Me have topped this country's charts. Comment on this item. Next Item: BSB-Band On The Run Prev Item: Backstreet Boys Edmonton-bound?